Dress-protector



(No Model.)

B. M. IDOWNING."

DRESS PROTECTOR.

N-o. 29s,722.-- Patente'df'eb,19,1884:

uni KI xiv m WITNESSES Attorney? u. PETERS Fhnloliilwgnphen Waihinglnn. 0.1:.

j UNITED STATES LIZAB THM. DOWNING, or

} PATENT OFFICE.

GRANT CITY, PENNSYLVANIA.

DRESS-PROTECTO R SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 293,722, dated February 19, 1884.

Application filed November 7, 1883. (No model.) i

To all whom, it may concern":

Be it known that I, ELIZABETH M. DOWN- ING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grant City, in the county otQLawrence and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Dress-Protector, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to dress-protectors; and it has for its object to provide a device which shall serve the double purpose of preventing the dress to which it is applied from being discolored by perspiration under the sleeves and of giving fullness to the bust. To this end it consists in the improved construction of the said device, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings hereto annexed, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved dress-protector. Fig.2 is a transverse sectional view on the linear to of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a View of part of a dress waist and sleeve, showing the device in position.

The same letters refer to the same parts in all the figures.

In the drawings hereto annexed, A designates the body of my improved dress-protector, which consists of a casing made of muslin, drilling, or other suitable material of the shape shown in the drawings, by reference to which it will be seen that it consists, essentially, of a straight central portion, B, having upwardly-curved front'and rear ends, 0 D, the former of which is made of greater width than therear end, and curved so as to conform to the shape of the bust. This case is stuffed with cotton-batting, sheet-wadding, or other suitable material, which is so distributed as to give the greatest fullness in the front end or bustportion, C, from whence it gradually decreases toward the center of the case.

' To the inner edge of the bust portion O-is stitched a flap, E, of soft-rubber cloth, oiled silk, or other suitable material impermeable to moisture, and lined with drilling, muslin, or the like. This fiap,which is adapted to fit under the sleeve, serves to prevent the perspiration from penetrating and discoloring the dress.

The application and operation of my invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed.

The inner edge of the front or bust portion, 0, is arranged and attached under the sleeve,

bust portion of the dress. The main portion A extends rearwardly under the sleeve and back of the arm, and the portion D extends over the shoulder until it meets the front edge of the portion 0. By this construction the fullness gradually increases from under the arm forwardly over the bust, thus forming a graceful outline, which, by appliances heretofore in use, it has been difficult or impossible to produce. The flap E thoroughly protects the dress from the discoloring effects of perspiration.

The device is simple, inexpensive, and easily applied.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. As an improved article of manufacture, the combined dress pad and protector, consisting of a wadded case comprising a straight central portion and upwardly-curved front and rear ends, substantially as described, in combination with an impervious flap secured to the inner edge of the front portion, as and for the purpose set forth.

-2. The combination, with a dress-waist, of the herein-described improved pad and pro tector, the same consisting of a wadded case comprising a straight central portion and upwardly-curved front and rear ends, and an impervious flap secured to the inner edge of the front end, said pad or protector being secured in the said dress-waist under and around the sleeve, as herein described, for the purpose set forth.

' In testimonythatI claim the foregoing as my own Ihave hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELIZABETH M. DOWVNING.

Witnesses:

JAMEs STORY, J. A ARTHERHOLT.

the portion 0 extending forwardly under the g 

